Ranbir Kapoor, Yash starrer’s never-seen-before footage to be shown exclusively to exhibitors in Chennai on August 18
The wait for Ramayana is about to get even more exciting for the exhibition fraternity. In a major development, Namit Malhotra’s much-awaited Ramayana will screen exclusive footage at Big Cine Expo 2026, giving theatre owners and other members of the exhibition industry an early look at visuals that have not yet been released publicly.
The ninth edition of Big Cine Expo is scheduled to take place on August 18 and 19 at Chennai Trade Centre, bringing together cinema exhibitors, distributors, technology companies, theatre owners, system integrators and other key stakeholders from the theatrical business.
According to KBP REVIEW information, the special Ramayana presentation will take place on August 18, the opening day of the expo. What makes this screening particularly interesting is that the footage is expected to contain unreleased material from the film.
Organisers will not permit attendees to use mobile phones or record any portion of the presentation. They are also expected to maintain strict security inside the screening area to prevent photographs or videos of the footage from emerging online.
Why This ‘Ramayana’ Screening Is A Big Deal – Unlike a conventional media screening or promotional event, Big Cine Expo primarily focuses on the theatrical exhibition business. The audience for the event includes people who operate cinemas, manage screens, handle projection and sound technology, and play a crucial role in bringing films to audiences.
That makes the decision to showcase Ramayana footage there especially significant. The presentation can give exhibitors a closer understanding of the film’s scale, visual effects, action, world-building and theatrical presentation, particularly as the makers position the project as a global cinematic event.
Big Cine Expo has previously used the platform to showcase exclusive material from major films. In 2024, Atlee presented footage from Baby John, while Boney Kapoor showcased scenes from Maidaan in an earlier edition. Brahmastra footage also screened for attendees in 2022.
This time, however, the project itself operates on an entirely different scale. Ramayana is being mounted as a two-part epic, with Ranbir Kapoor playing Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash portraying Ravana. Sunny Deol plays Hanuman, while Ravi Dubey plays Lakshman. Nitesh Tiwari directs the film, while Namit Malhotra produces it under Prime Focus Studios, in association with DNEG and Yash’s Monster Mind Creations. The makers have also confirmed that the project has been filmed for IMAX and is being developed with a worldwide audience in mind.
The production has already generated headlines for its extraordinary scale. Ramayana became the first Indian film to bring together more than 10,000 crew members globally, with specialists working across visual effects, production design, costumes, action, world-building and several technical departments.
Parminder Chadda To Present The Footage – The Ramayana team itself is not expected to attend the Chennai presentation. Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, Sai Pallavi, Nitesh Tiwari and Namit Malhotra will reportedly not be present at the expo.
Instead, Parminder Chadda, Technical Head at Prime Focus, will handle the exclusive presentation. That choice itself indicates how heavily the presentation could focus on the technical and theatrical aspects of Ramayana.
For exhibitors, the opportunity involves more than simply watching new footage. The presentation could offer insight into how the film has been designed for the big screen and why the makers are insisting on a large-format theatrical experience.
Ramayana has already entered a new phase of its worldwide journey after Prime Focus Studios announced Sony Pictures as the film’s global distributor outside India, while Dharma Productions is handling distribution across North India’s Hindi-speaking markets.
The project has been marketed from the beginning as something larger than a conventional Bollywood adaptation. Namit Malhotra and the team have consistently spoken about taking the story of Rama and Ravana to audiences across the world while maintaining its Indian roots.
The film’s global ambitions have also reflected in the talent involved. Prime Focus has positioned Ramayana as a collaboration involving international filmmaking expertise, while DNEG is handling the film’s extensive visual effects work. The project also brings together Hans Zimmer and A. R. Rahman for its music and score, adding another international dimension to the production.
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Ranbir has spoken openly about the responsibility he feels while portraying Rama, while Yash has discussed the challenge of creating his own interpretation of Ravana when the character has already been portrayed numerous times.
The film has also received strong backing from people outside the film industry. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis recently expressed his belief that Ramayana could become an internationally recognised achievement and even said he would be disappointed if the film did not win an Oscar.
At San Diego Comic-Con 2026, Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, Nitesh Tiwari and Namit Malhotra discussed the film and its characters, with Ranbir speaking about the fear and responsibility attached to playing Rama. Yash, meanwhile, explained that his biggest challenge as Ravana was finding an interpretation that felt distinctly his own.
Rakesh Roshan To Be Honoured At IMAX Big Cine Awards – Big Cine Expo 2026 will have another major attraction on August 18.The IMAX Big Cine Awards 2026 will honour veteran filmmaker Rakesh Roshan with the Special Achievement Award. The filmmaker has been one of Hindi cinema’s most successful directors and producers, with a career spanning several decades and major commercial milestones.
According to the official Big Cine Expo schedule, the IMAX Big Cine Awards will take place on the first day of the event, with Rakesh Roshan among the key honourees. The awards will also recognise achievements across the exhibition sector, including multiplexes, single-screen theatres, technology adopters and other cinema chains.
Bharatmata has particular historical importance, having served audiences since 1941 before undergoing a major revival. Its upgraded version now features modern projection, Dolby sound and improved seating while retaining its identity as a heritage single-screen venue.
ALSO READ: Farhan Akhtar’s ‘Pattern’ Remark Brings Ranveer Singh’s ‘Don 3’ Exit Back Into Spotlight
The controversy recently resurfaced after Farhan made what appeared to be a subtle remark about Ranveer while discussing Saif Ali Khan’s near-exit from Dil Chahta Hai.
Speaking about the 2001 classic, Farhan recalled how Saif had almost walked away from the film roughly a month before filming because of scheduling difficulties. While describing how stressful the situation had been, Farhan added the line, “which seems to be a pattern nowadays,” prompting laughter from the interviewer.
The comment immediately drew attention because of the ongoing Don 3 dispute. For the uninitiated, Ranveer Singh was set to headline Don 3 before reportedly exiting the project shortly before the scheduled shoot. The dispute subsequently escalated between Ranveer and Excel Entertainment, with financial and contractual issues becoming part of the disagreement.
The matter eventually reached FWICE, which issued a non-cooperation directive against Ranveer. However, the organisation later withdrew the directive after Ranveer sent a legal notice and producer bodies including the Producers Guild of India and IMPPA intervened.
The Producers Guild subsequently issued a broader statement calling for industry-wide mechanisms to address last-minute exits from film projects, without naming Ranveer directly.
Ranveer has largely maintained silence publicly on the matter, while his spokesperson has previously stressed his respect for the film fraternity and those associated with Don 3.
